Outdoor enthusiasts and business groups on Wednesday announced the formation of a new organization to promote hunting in Iowa, hoping to reverse years of declining interest in the activity. Hunting Works for Iowa will stress the economic boost hunting provides. The organization estimates that hunters spend more than $288 million in the state annually and create 6,200 jobs, said Jim Henter, president of the Iowa Retail Federation, which is taking part in the effort. The new organization, which includes about 45 groups, plans to boost hunting by keeping a close watch on public policy decisions and pushing for hunting-friendly regulations while making the case that the sport benefits the state economy. The number of hunting licenses issued in Iowa has declined for 10 straight years, the Department of Natural Resources said. DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins said his agency issued 194,019 resident hunting licenses in 2001 but just 160,466 in 2011.

New Iowa Org Aims to Promote Pro-Hunting Issues

Anyone who follows the news knows that the saga of dove hunting in Iowa has been a long, strange trip (that’s still not quite over). But now there’s a new state organization with the express goal of promoting and advancing pro-hunting issues and reversing declining hunting interest in the Hawkeye state.

Outdoor enthusiasts and business groups on Wednesday announced the formation of a new organization to promote hunting in Iowa, hoping to reverse years of declining interest in the activity. Hunting Works for Iowa will stress the economic boost hunting provides. The organization estimates that hunters spend more than $288 million in the state annually and create 6,200 jobs, said Jim Henter, president of the Iowa Retail Federation, which is taking part in the effort. The new organization, which includes about 45 groups, plans to boost hunting by keeping a close watch on public policy decisions and pushing for hunting-friendly regulations while making the case that the sport benefits the state economy. The number of hunting licenses issued in Iowa has declined for 10 straight years, the Department of Natural Resources said. DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins said his agency issued 194,019 resident hunting licenses in 2001 but just 160,466 in 2011.